Highlighting the dangers of fighting corruption…

Posthumous Tributes

Hasan Baliki, (Turkey) electrical engineer, posthumous

"TI Turkey is using the example given to all of us by Hasan Balikçi that you do not have to be a high official or politician to be a shining example to others who see corruption but are afraid to do anything about it. Balikçi paid for his anti-corruption work with his life. If we all do our share against corruption, bribe givers and bribe takers cannot stand against this and no single individual will ever have to lose his life again."
Ercis Kurtulus, Chairman, TI Turkey

Hasan Balikçi, a Turkish electrical engineer for the state-owned company, Turkey Electric Distribution A.S. (TEDAS), who was murdered in October 2002. Mr Balikçi was responsible for rooting out those responsible for stealing billions of dollars from this important national utility. However, he paid with his life for his revelations of corruption by businessmen and officials. His death not only led to a huge public outcry and increased awareness about corruption in the energy sector; it also prompted the strengthening of laws regulating corrupt activities in this sector. Balikçi's widow, Sengül Balikçi, believes his death marked a turning point: "Those who planned Hasan's death forgot one thing," she said. "They forgot that this struggle will spread, wave after wave - that there will be many Hasan Balikçis; that our struggle will continue with increasing support."

"Mr Dubey laid down his life in fighting the scourge of corruption. He could either have gone with the tide or kept his anonymity by remaining in the background. But, he boldly chose to be in the forefront and fight for justice. His death is a testimony to his idealism and a source of inspiration to the people who are keen to fight the evil of corruption."
R.H. Tahiliani, Chairman, TI India

Satyendra Kumar Dubey, former Deputy General Manager of the National Highway Authority in India, was overseeing a road project worth billions of dollars when he was killed on 27 November 2003, at the age of 31. His was murdered after his name was leaked in connection with a complaint about corruption he had sent to the prime minister's office and the road network authority. His death caused an outcry of condemnation and sympathy in a country where public money is frequently siphoned off from large government projects through corruption and where there is widespread indifference among officials unaccustomed to having to justify their actions publicly. As well as emerging as a focal point for resistance to corruption and dishonesty, Dubey's death has led to renewed demands for laws to protect whistleblowers.

"Mr Saha died a valiant hero-leaving many lessons to be learned. Present-day journalists and reporters have been imbued by his enobling and courage to expose the truth and bring offenders to justice."
TI Bangladesh

Mr Saha was a journalist and social activist in Bangladesh, who frequently reported on crime and political corruption for the New Age newspaper and for the BBC Bengali Service. His resolute determination to expose injustice made him enemies and he received numerous death threats, spending much of the year under police protection, before he was killed in a bomb attack on 15 January 2004. His death brought thousands of mourners out into the streets, and drew condemnation of his murder from Reporters without Borders and the Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism and Communication.

António Siba-Siba Macuácua was due to submit a report on the financial situation of Austral Bank, the largest commercial bank in Mozambique, when he was murdered, aged 33, in the bank's offices on 11 August 2001. Director of the Department of Banking Supervision at the Central Bank, Siba-Siba Macuácua had been made acting chairman of Austral Bank to oversee its re-privatisation. Before his death, he published a list of the bank's debtors, and tracked down and cancelled bogus contracts. His murder to this day remains unresolved.

Abdelhaï Beliardouh, an investigative journalist for the weekly El Watan in the town of Tébessa, close to the Tunisian border, was writing a series of reports on corruption in cross-border trade. His reports led to his kidnapping and torture by an armed gang. The violence against him drove him to take his own life. He died on 19 November 2002.

Exposing corruption through words and deeds

A widely respected journalist, Carlos Alberto Cardoso fought tirelessly for a free and open press in Mozambique and dedicated his career to uncovering the truth. When he was assassinated on 22 November 2000, Cardoso was in the midst of investigating the largest banking fraud in the country's history. Cardoso today remains a symbol of tenacity and integrity in the battle against corruption.

A symbol of political activism

"Men can be eliminated but ideas cannot. On the contrary, when men are eliminated ideas become reinforced."

Dr. Luis Carlos Galán Sarmiento, Senator, posthumous Integrity Awards winner, 2001, was assassinated on 18 August 1989. Dr Sarmiento is a role model for those fighting corruption in Latin America and throughout the world. A gifted and dedicated politician, he fearlessly explored the links between organised crime, drug trafficking and government. For this, he was killed while on the campaign trail as he was running for President. His brutal murder, ordered by Colombia's drug cartels, remains unpunished, more than 10 years later.

"I am ready to die for this country if this will help it."
Georgy Gongadze, outspoken journalist, posthumous Integrity Awards winner 2001, assassinated in November 2000.

Georgy Gongadze was found mutilated and burnt in November 2000. An outspoken journalist and government critic, Gongadze was brutally murdered after he repeatedly criticised the Ukrainian government and Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma. There is evidence that his murder might have been organised at the highest level of government by those who feared the exposure of his investigative reporting and his calls for transparency.

A symbol of freedom of expression
For real independence, it is necessary to pay dearly. We shall pay the required price. L'Indépendant will remain independent or will not exist.

Norbert Zongo, Editor of L'Indépendant, posthumousIntegrity Awards winner 2001, assassinated in 1998. ´

Norbert Zongo was the Editor of the weekly newspaper L'Indépendant, who dedicated his professional career to uncovering the truth. He was assassinated in 1998, at the age of 49, while investigating allegations linking the brother of Burkina Faso's President, Blaise Compaoré, to a high-profile unsolved murder.